{ "id": 11713440, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ERIC EUGENE BRICE and TYRONE DAVID GOOD", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Brice", "decision_date": "1997-07-15", "docket_number": "No. COA96-942", "first_page": "788", "last_page": "795", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "126 N.C. App. 788" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "39 ALR5th 283", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 5th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "481 S.E.2d 425", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "427-28" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "125 N.C. App. 562", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11869579 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "566-67" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/125/0562-01" ] }, { "cite": "451 S.E.2d 190", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "195" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "339 N.C. 477", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2556305 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "485" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/339/0477-01" ] }, { "cite": "414 U.S. 141", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11715366 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "146-47" }, { "page": "373" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/414/0141-01" ] }, { "cite": "395 S.E.2d 106", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "109", "parenthetical": "quoting Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 38 L. Ed. 2d 368, 373 (1973)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "327 N.C. 388", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2493650 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "392", "parenthetical": "quoting Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 38 L. Ed. 2d 368, 373 (1973)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/327/0388-01" ] }, { "cite": "466 S.E.2d 278", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "following Blankenship and vacating the defendant's convictions" }, { "page": "279" }, { "page": "281" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "342 N.C. 623", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 796149 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "following Blankenship and vacating the defendant's convictions" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/342/0623-01" ] }, { "cite": "403 S.E.2d 495", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "500" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "328 N.C. 613", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2543691 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "620-21" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/328/0613-01" ] }, { "cite": "430 U.S. 188", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12122537 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "191-92" }, { "page": "264-65" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/430/0188-01" ] }, { "cite": "403 S.E.2d 280", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "286" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "328 N.C. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2540682 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "637" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/328/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "481 S.E.2d 44", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "71" }, { "page": "72" }, { "page": "71", "parenthetical": "defining ex post facto" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "345 N.C. 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 53983 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "234" }, { "page": "234" }, { "page": "234" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/345/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "447 S.E.2d 727", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "736" }, { "page": "738-39" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "337 N.C. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2552812 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "558" }, { "page": "562" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/337/0543-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 S.E.2d 375", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "378" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 N.C. 655", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565416 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "660" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/307/0655-01" ] }, { "cite": "468 S.E.2d 227", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "231", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 660, 300 S.E.2d 375, 378 (1983)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "343 N.C. 79", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 798899 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "85", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 660, 300 S.E.2d 375, 378 (1983)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/343/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "375 S.E.2d 156", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "160" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "323 N.C. 675", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2561304 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "682" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/323/0675-01" ] }, { "cite": "472 S.E.2d 763", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "766" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "344 N.C. 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 867648 ], "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/344/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "243 S.E.2d 338", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "351" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "294 N.C. 503", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8574036 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "522-23" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/294/0503-01" ] }, { "cite": "419 S.E.2d 578", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "332 N.C. 149", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2507488, 2507148, 2506834, 2504822, 2503387 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/332/0149-04", "/nc/332/0149-05", "/nc/332/0149-03", "/nc/332/0149-02", "/nc/332/0149-01" ] }, { "cite": "413 S.E.2d 590", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 N.C. App. 370", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523228 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/105/0370-01" ] }, { "cite": "410 S.E.2d 516", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "521" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 N.C. App. 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523002 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "567" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/104/0558-01" ] }, { "cite": "282 S.E.2d 439", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "446" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "304 N.C. 93", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565336 ], "year": 1981, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/304/0093-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 761, "char_count": 15403, "ocr_confidence": 0.748, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.2373283744758802e-07, "percentile": 0.607057013748678 }, "sha256": "49af7b8921005d031cea9979260854c5a5ccb24d97933886d1af521265150cb2", "simhash": "1:59a89c7af2761ed6", "word_count": 2598 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:11:14.463583+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges EAGLES and SMITH concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ERIC EUGENE BRICE and TYRONE DAVID GOOD" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "McGEE, Judge.\nDefendants Eric Eugene Brice and Tyrone David Good were tried jointly upon indictments of two counts of robbery with a firearm and one count of second-degree kidnapping. The jury found each defendant guilty of all three charges on 20 March 1996. Judgments and commitments were entered on 21 March 1996 and amended 25 June 1996. Both defendants appeal.\nEvidence presented by the State tended to show the following occurred on 13 July 1995. Defendants Brice and Good, along with Dennis Tate, went to the home of Kenneth Starr and Christine Nash. Starr and Nash knew Brice and invited him and his companions into the residence. Following a brief conversation, Starr went outside to quiet his dogs. Shortly after Starr re-entered the house, Brice pointed a gun at him and forced him back outside. Brice demanded money from Starr, stating \u201cI don\u2019t want to kill you, but you know I will shoot you.\u201d\nThe State\u2019s evidence indicated that while Brice was outside with Starr, defendant Good went into a bedroom where David Toms and David Littlejohn, guests of Starr, were sleeping. Good ordered Toms and Littlejohn to lie on the bedroom floor while he searched them and the room for valuables. At approximately the same time, Tate was in the living room where he threatened Nash with a gun and ordered her to lie face down on the floor. Nash became ill, suffering an asthma attack, and was unable to recall any further events that occurred. According to Starr, the three men left once satisfied they had obtained all the available cash. Nash, Toms, and Littlejohn remained on the floor until the men were gone. Defendants presented no evidence.\nBoth defendants were charged with second-degree kidnapping of Nash. They argue the State failed to meet its burden of establishing the kidnapping as a completely independent act from the robbery and assign error to the trial court\u2019s refusal to dismiss the kidnapping charge.\nDefendants contend the restraint of Nash was an integral part of the robbery of Starr and his guests and not a separate act of kidnapping. They rely upon State v. Irwin, 304 N.C. 93, 282 S.E.2d 439 (1981), to assert the separate charge of kidnapping subjects them to double jeopardy. Irwin involved the robbery of a drug store by two armed defendants. The victim, an employee, was forced from the front of the store to the back where the safe was located. Our Supreme Court stated that this removal was necessary to facilitate the robbery and was not a separate act of kidnapping. Id. at 103, 282 S.E.2d at 446.\nThe present case more closely resembles State v. Joyce, 104 N.C. App. 558, 410 S.E.2d 516 (1991), and State v. Brayboy, 105 N.C. App. 370, 413 S.E.2d 590, cert. denied 332 N.C. 149, 419 S.E.2d 578 (1992). The Joyce court distinguished Irwin on the ground that it was not necessary in Joyce for the victims to be moved in order to complete the robbery. Joyce, 104 N.C. App. at 567, 410 S.E.2d at 521. This Court held in Brayboy that the act of pushing a victim to the ground to prevent her from investigating a gun shot was sufficient to sustain a kidnapping conviction, stating \u201crestraint does not have to last for an appreciable period of time and removal does not require movement for a substantial distance.\u201d Brayboy, 105 N.C. at 375, 413 S.E.2d at 593 (citing State v. Fulcher, 294 N.C. 503, 522-23, 243 S.E.2d 338, 351 (1978)).\nIn this case, the jury could reasonably find that the restraint of Nash was not necessary to carry out the robbery of Starr and Toms. There is no evidence that Nash interfered with defendants\u2019 actions, and nothing was stolen from her. In State v. Roseborough, 344 N.C. 121, 472 S.E.2d 763 (1996) our Supreme Court stated:\nA motion to dismiss is properly denied if substantial evidence of each essential element of the offense charged is presented at trial. The evidence must be considered in the light most favorable to the State and the State is entitled to every reasonable inference to be drawn from that evidence.\nId. at 126, 472 S.E.2d at 766 (quoting State v. Quick, 323 N.C. 675, 682, 375 S.E.2d 156, 160 (1989)). We find there was sufficient evidence presented for the kidnapping charge to be submitted to the jury.\nDefendant Good next contends the trial court\u2019s acting in concert jury instruction on the kidnapping charge was prejudicial error. The State argues that defendants\u2019 failure to object to the jury instruction at trial precludes them from arguing it to this Court on appeal pursuant to Rule 10(b)(2) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. However, both Rule 10(c)(4) and decisions of our Supreme Court provide for plain error review in criminal cases, including review of jury instructions. N.C.R. App. P. 10(c)(4) (1996); see also, State v. Gainey, 343 N.C. 79, 85, 468 S.E.2d 227, 231 (1996) (citing State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 660, 300 S.E.2d 375, 378 (1983)). We will review the jury instructions for plain error. We note that although defendants failed to object after the jury instructions were given, they did disagree with the trial court\u2019s interpretation of the acting in concert standard just prior to the jury receiving that instruction. In addition, both defendants moved to dismiss the kidnapping charge at the conclusion of the State\u2019s evidence, claiming the State failed to prove specific intent.\nIn 1994 our Supreme Court clarified the law of acting in concert in State v. Blankenship, 337 N.C. 543, 558, 447 S.E.2d 727, 736 (1994), holding that for each acting in concert charge related to a specific intent crime, the State must prove each defendant\u2019s intent to commit the specified crime. In the recent decision of State v. Barnes, 345 N.C. 184, 481 S.E.2d 44 (1997), the Supreme Court specifically overruled Blankenship and returned to its prior acting in concert standard:\n[I]f \u201ctwo persons join in a purpose to commit a crime, each of them, if actually or constructively present, is not only guilty as a principal if the other commits that particular crime, but he is also guilty of any other crime committed by the other in pursuance of the common purpose ... or as a natural or probable consequence thereof.\u201d\nId. at 233, 481 S.E.2d at 71 (quoting State v. Erlewine, 328 N.C. 626, 637, 403 S.E.2d 280, 286 (1991)).\nAlthough Barnes lowered the State\u2019s burden, the Court noted that no ex post facto problem was created because the crimes in Barnes were committed and defendants were sentenced prior to the certification of the Blankenship opinion on 29 September 1994. Barnes, 345 N.C. at 234, 481 S.E.2d at 72. Ex post facto arguments originally referred only to legislative enactments; however, in Marks v. United States, 430 U.S. 188, 51 L. Ed. 2d 260 (1977), the United States Supreme Court extended the doctrine to \u201cforbid the retrospective application of an unforeseeable judicial modification of criminal law to the detriment of the defendant in the case at issue.\u201d Barnes, 345 N.C. at 234, 481 S.E.2d at 72 (citing Marks, 430 U.S. at 191-92, 51 L. Ed. 2d at 264-65).\nFollowing the Barnes decision, this Court decided State v. Woods, No. COA96-676 (N.C. Court of Appeals, July 1, 1997), a case in which the crime, conviction and sentencing occurred after Blankenship but before Barnes. Since we found the jury instructions in Woods comported with the Blankenship standard, it was not necessary to address the ex post facto issue. Defendant Good\u2019s contention that the application of the Barnes standard in this case \u201callows different or greater punishment than was permitted when the crime was committed\u201d has merit. Barnes, 345 N.C. at 234, 481 S.E.2d at 71 (defining ex post facto) (quoting State v. Vance, 328 N.C. 613, 620-21, 403 S.E.2d 495, 500 (1991)). Therefore, we address whether the instructions given comply with Blankenship, which was the applicable law at the time this case arose.\nDefendants contend the trial court\u2019s acting in concert instruction as to the kidnapping is similar to those found deficient in Blankenship and in State v. Straing, 342 N.C. 623, 466 S.E.2d 278 (1996) (following Blankenship and vacating the defendant\u2019s convictions). The Straing instructions stated in pertinent part:\nFor a person to be guilty of a crime it is not necessary that he himself do all of the acts necessary to constitute the crime. If two or more persons act together with a common purpose to commit a crime, each of them is not only guilty as a principle [sic] if the other commits that particular crime, but he is also guilty of any other crime committed by the other in pursuance of the common purpose or as a natural or probable consequence of the common purpose.\nId. at 625, 466 S.E.2d at 279. Defendants argue the trial court submitted the crime of kidnapping to the jury \u201cwithout requiring the State to establish that [each] defendant had the specific intent\u201d to participate in the separate act of kidnapping. See id. at 627, 466 S.E.2d at 281.\nWe agree the trial court\u2019s jury instructions in this case create some confusion. The second-degree kidnapping instruction stated in pertinent part:\nThird, that the defendant confined, restrained, or removed the person for the purpose of facilitating another person\u2019s commission of a crime; and that would have to be the armed robbery.\nThis was followed by an acting in concert instruction:\n[F]or a person to be guilty of a crime, it is not necessary that he himself do all the acts necessary to constitute the crime. They may be guilty if two or more persons act together with a common purpose and are actually or constructively present at the time the crime is committed. Each of them is held responsible for the acts of the other done in the commission of the crime. That would be second-degree kidnapping.\nConsidering the fluctuating acting in concert standard of proof, it is not unexpected that a trial court\u2019s instructions might be inconsistent with the applicable law. This inconsistency will not necessarily create reversible error, as \u201ca single instruction to a jury may not be judged in artificial isolation, but must be viewed in the context of the overall charge.\u201d State v. McNeil, 327 N.C. 388, 392, 395 S.E.2d 106, 109 (1990) (quoting Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 38 L. Ed. 2d 368, 373 (1973)).\nIn reviewing the overall context, we conclude the jury could reasonably interpret the instructions to indicate defendants\u2019 guilt of second-degree kidnapping if the act of restraint was committed in furtherance of the plan to commit robbery. \u201cThus, there is a reasonable possibility that had the instructional error on acting in concert not occurred, a different result [may] have been reached.\u201d Blankenship, 337 N.C. at 562, 447 S.E.2d at 738-39; see also N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15A-1443(a) (1988). Therefore, both defendants are entitled to a new trial as to the kidnapping charge.\nWe note the trial court\u2019s acting in concert instruction regarding robbery with a firearm was very clear and met both the Blankenship and Barnes standards:\n[Y]ou may find either of these defendants guilty of the crime of robbery with a firearm even though you may find that they were not the person who possessed the firearm or who took the property if you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted in concert with another... for a common purpose and that common purpose being to commit robbery with a firearm . . . then you may hold that person responsible for the act of the others done in the commission of the crime, (emphasis added).\nThe trial court\u2019s specific identification of robbery as the crime defendants intended to commit is the essential element missing from the kidnapping instruction.\nDefendant Brice further assigns as error the trial court\u2019s enhancement of his kidnapping sentence based on the use of a firearm as an aggravating factor. In that this might again be at issue in a second trial on the kidnapping charge, we address this assignment of error. In this case, the State presented evidence that Tate restrained Nash by threatening her with a firearm. Relying on the use of a firearm to prove the necessary element of restraint precludes employing the use of a firearm again to enhance the sentence. See State v. Beamer, 339 N.C. 477, 485, 451 S.E.2d 190, 195 (1994); State v. Smith, 125 N.C. App. 562, 566-67, 481 S.E.2d 425, 427-28 (1997). The trial court erred by enhancing the kidnapping sentence.\nDefendant Good further contends the trial court erred by granting the State\u2019s motion to join his trial with that of Brice. While Good did assign error to this issue, the argument was not presented separately in the brief as required by the Rules of Appellate Procedure; therefore, it may not be considered by this Court. N.C.R. App. P. 28(b)(5) (1997). The remaining assignments of error not addressed by either defendant in their briefs are deemed abandoned. N.C.R. App. P. 28(a) (1997).\nNo error as to the two counts of robbery with a firearm. New trial for both defendants on the second-degree kidnapping charge only.\nAffirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for new trial on the kidnapping indictment.\nJudges EAGLES and SMITH concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "McGEE, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Assistant Attorney General Teresa L. White, for the State.", "Henry L. Fowler, III for defendant-appellant Eric Eugene Brice.", "Appellate Defender Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., by Assistant Appellate Defender Charles L. Alston, Jr., for defendant-appellant Tyrone David Good." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ERIC EUGENE BRICE and TYRONE DAVID GOOD\nNo. COA96-942\n(Filed 15 July 1997)\n1. Kidnapping and Felonious Restraint \u00a7 18 (NCI4th)\u2014 robbery and kidnapping \u2014 restraint of victim unnecessary to robbery\nIn a prosecution for robbery and kidnapping, the trial court did not err in submitting the charge of kidnapping to the jury where the evidence showed that restraint of the victim was not necessary to carry out the robbery of two other victims and there was no evidence that anything was stolen from the kidnapping victim.\nAm Jur 2d, Abduction and Kidnapping \u00a7 49.\nSeizure or detention for purpose of committing rape, robbery, or other offense as constituting separate crime of kidnapping. 39 ALR5th 283.\n2. Criminal Law \u00a7 804 ( NCI4th Rev.)\u2014 acting in concert\u2014 kidnapping \u2014 intent to commit robbery \u2014 erroneous instruction\nThe trial court\u2019s acting in concert instructions on a kidnapping charge constituted prejudicial error where the jury could reasonably interpret the instructions to indicate defendant\u2019s guilt of second-degree kidnapping if the act of restraint was committed in furtherance of a plan to commit robbery.\nAm Jur 2d, Criminal Law \u00a7 918.\n3. Criminal Law \u00a7 1096 (NCI4th Rev.)\u2014 use of a firearm\u2014 aggravating factor \u2014 enhancement of sentence \u2014 necessary element of restraint\nIt was error for the trial court to enhance defendant\u2019s sentence for kidnapping based on use of a firearm as an aggravating factor where the use of a firearm was used to prove the necessary element of restraint.\nAm Jur 2d, Criminal Law \u00a7\u00a7 598, 599.\n4. Appeal and Error \u00a7 418 (NCI4th)\u2014 assignments of error\u2014 abandoned\nDefendant\u2019s assignments of error which were not presented in defendant\u2019s brief as required by N.C. R. App. R 28(b)(5) are deemed abandoned.\nAm Jur 2d, Appellate Review \u00a7\u00a7 544-551.\nAppeal by defendants from judgments and commitments entered 21 March 1996 and amended judgment and commitment entered 25 June 1996 by Judge Ronald K. Payne in Gaston County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 12 May 1997.\nAttorney General Michael F. Easley, by Assistant Attorney General Teresa L. White, for the State.\nHenry L. Fowler, III for defendant-appellant Eric Eugene Brice.\nAppellate Defender Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., by Assistant Appellate Defender Charles L. Alston, Jr., for defendant-appellant Tyrone David Good." }, "file_name": "0788-01", "first_page_order": 826, "last_page_order": 833 }